The process of filing nomination for the post of Congress President has started from today. This process will continue till 30 September. The nominations will be scrutinized on October 1 and the list of valid candidates will be released on the same day. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 8. If more than one Congress leader files nominations, voting will be held on October 17 and results will be declared on October 19.
The last election for the post of President in Congress was held in the year 2000. Then there was Jitendra Prasad in front of Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi got about 7,448 votes, but Jitendra Prasad was reduced to 94 votes. The Gandhi family never faced any challenge when Sonia Gandhi became the president in 2000.
4 names ahead of 4 states in the race for the post of President
Now the number of candidates has increased for the election of Congress President. Earlier the names of Shashi Tharoor and Ashok Gehlot were coming out, but now former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijay Singh and former Union Minister Manish Tewari have also joined.
Kamal Nath’s name was also in discussion.
CM Digvijay Singh had also described himself as a contender in a conversation with the media. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath’s name was also in the news, but sources told Bhaskar that he has no plans to visit Delhi till September 30.
Manish Tewari is part of G-23 group
Manish Tewari is part of the G-23 group of Congress, which wrote to Sonia Gandhi demanding reforms in the party. On 26 August this year, G-23 group member Ghulam Nabi Azad had resigned, terming the organizational election process of the Congress as a farce and a sham.
Tiwari is a Member of Parliament from the Shri Anandpur Lok Sabha seat of Punjab. According to sources, Tiwari is reaching Delhi on 24 September. In Delhi itself, he will discuss with his supporters. After this, the decision related to contesting the elections will be taken. Tiwari has also been the President of NSUI for 5 years and Youth Congress for 2 years.
Digvijay Singh has been the General Secretary of AICC
Digvijay Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has been the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). He has also been the President of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee. In an interview given to NDTV on Wednesday, Digvijay Singh appealed to Rahul Gandhi to take over as the president.
When asked whether he would like Ashok Gehlot or Shashi Tharoor in the leadership role apart from Rahul, Digvijay Singh said- let’s see. I’m not even dismissing myself, why do you want to keep me out? Digvijay said that everyone has the right to contest elections. You will know the answer by the evening of 30th.
Shashi Tharoor is the chairman of AIPC
Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor is a Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He is also the President of All India Professional Congress. He is one of the G-23 leaders of Congress. On September 19, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met the interim president of the party, Sonia Gandhi. During this, he sought permission from Sonia to contest the elections.
However, Sonia told him in clear words that it is your decision to contest the elections. That is, this is your call, the election process of the party will be according to the rules set. Everyone has equal rights in this. Tharoor reached the Congress headquarters in the morning and met the Central Election Authority.
Gehlot leads the race for the post of President
The name of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is at the forefront of the race for the President. In this regard, he spoke to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi for two hours on Wednesday evening. It is not known what happened between the two leaders.
According to media reports, Sonia only said that she will not favor anyone in this election for the post of party president. On the other hand, Gehlot also went to Kochi on Thursday to meet Rahul Gandhi. Talking to the media, he said, ‘I am trying once again to convince Rahul Gandhi for the post of president. I will come back only after Rahul Gandhi says yes or no. After that the further movement will be decided.
On the question of holding both the posts of CM and President, Gehlot said, ‘Time will tell where I will stay, where I will not be.’ On the one post, one person formula, he said, ‘My wish is that I should not hold any position, because I have held many positions. Party should benefit from my presence, Congress should be strong, I want this. Gehlot said that the party has given me a lot over the years.
Sonia was the President continuously from 1998 to 2017
No one could challenge Rahul Gandhi even after becoming the President. Rahul Gandhi became the president from 2017 to 2019. Sonia Gandhi’s tenure lasted from 1998 to 2017. After the resignation of Rahul Gandhi in the year 2019, Sonia Gandhi once again became the interim president, who remains in this post till now.
Source: dainikbhaskarup.com”